Jake Paul is reportedly in talks to face boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez just days after speculation over a fight along with his own brother.
Despite recent reports that Canelo Alvarez will face Terence Crawford in a clash of boxing’s two biggest superstars, Alvarez has allegedly pivoted towards one among the game’s most polarizing personalities.
Alvarez and Crawford, as reported by ESPN, are finalizing a deal to square off in an excellent middleweight championship fight on September thirteenth in Las Vegas. A proper announcement regarding the fight is imminent.
But based on one among boxing’s top promoters, Alvarez can be in preliminary discussions to face Jake Paul this 12 months along with the Crawford fight talks. Earlier this week, Paul announced his potential return to the boxing ring, an announcement that contradicted initial reports concerning the Alvarez vs. Paul fight rumors.
Jake was also briefly linked to a possible fight along with his brother, Logan, for a later date. But after an initial fight poster tease, it seems the Paul brothers will square off in an upcoming reality television series documenting their lives out and in of combat sports.
Regardless, Matchroom Boxing says the Alvarez vs. Paul fight talks are legit, and are a better priority than Alvarez’s negotiations with Crawford.
Eddie Hearn: Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez ‘is completed’ for an unprecedented showdown
In a recent interview with Ring Magazine, promoter Eddie Hearn defended Alvarez for taking the Paul fight as an alternative of a clash with Crawford.
“The move to fight Jake Paul perhaps derailed the opposite fight but I don’t blame Canelo Alvarez because financially, the larger fight is Jake Paul,” Hearn said of Alvarez vs. Paul. “Because in that fight, you bought two big stars. Within the [Crawford] fight, you bought two great fighters and one big star. And Terence Crawford, who needs to be a giant star — but the truth is, he isn’t. He’s an unbelievable fighter. As I’m hearing, Canelo vs. Jake Paul is completed. And I get it. I’ll watch it.” (h/t MMA Mania)
Boxing fans didn’t take long to make their stances known loud and clear about Alvarez vs. Paul.
“Canelo turning down Bud for Jake Paul is a horrible look,” one fan tweeted.
“The indisputable fact that this ruined an all time fight like Canelo vs Crawford is incredibly disappointing,” one other weighed in.
“Shadow realm get prepared for Jake the snake.”
“Jake the brand new red panty night?”
“How can people respect this in boxing?”
“This is completely wild.”
Reports: Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez booking ‘premature’ despite plethora of rumors
Combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani later clarified that while the Alvarez vs. Paul fight talks began months ago, the fight’s booking remains to be a giant query mark. Helwani says that the notion that Alvarez vs. Paul is a ‘done deal’ is premature right now, based on a source within the know.
Paul hasn’t fought within the ring since defeating heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson in November by unanimous decision. Alvarez will return to the ring against Paul, Crawford, or each this 12 months after defeating Edgar Berlanga instantly classic in September.
If Paul vs. Alvarez involves fruition, it’ll be the primary matchup of its category since Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated UFC superstar Conor McGregor in 2017. As of this writing, it’s uncertain if Paul vs. Alvarez can be for the latter’s belts or will happen at a negotiated catchweight.
